Monday December 17, 2012 7:42 pm

Samsung Galaxy S III, other Android devices susceptible to malware through Google Play

A "severe vulnerability" has been identified within the SamsungGalaxy S III, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note II, and possibly other Android devices.

The vulnerability leaves these devices open to malware downloaded in remote apps, which can then read user data and even brick your phone completely. "The good news is we can easily obtain root on these devices and the bad is there is no control over it," said xda-developers user Alephzain. Usually, vulnerabilities like this require physical access to the phone, while this vulnerability allows it to be attacked from apps downloaded from the Google Play Store.

Samsung is apparently aware of the problem, but has not publicly acknowledged the problem. Millions of devices are reportedly at risk right now as public knowledge of the issue spreads.